14 Useful Things to Know When You Visit Copenhagen for the First Time

My first trip to Copenhagen back in 2016 feels like a long time ago, and it clearly made a big impression on me. I visited seven times in total after that initial weekend, before finally moving to the Danish capital in 2020. In the many years since then, I’ve been lucky enough to see Copenhagen from the perspective of both a local and a tourist. 

During that time, I’ve learned a lot and made several mistakes that I can now look back on and laugh about. I have also seen numerous tourists make similar errors without realizing, which made me think that I evidently wasn’t alone in this respect. Despite now being very familiar with how things work in Copenhagen, I also realized that there are plenty of things—big and small—that you should know before visiting. 

I’m not going to tell you not to rent a bike when you visit Copenhagen. It’s the best way to get around the city, and I cycle pretty much everywhere. The biking infrastructure really is as good as the international media says it is, and I love cycling throughout the year as well. 

My issue, however, is when people don’t follow the most important rules of cycling. I’ve seen foolish behavior from visitors on bikes far too often, and it’s particularly bad during the summer. Some of these include…

• Cycling among traffic when there are bike lanes (this is a big issue on Store Kongensgade in particular, which is a one-way traffic and cycling street) 
• Cutting across at junctions rather than stopping at the light and then turning
• Not signaling when turning
• Not putting their hand up to signal when they’re stopping

The last point is particularly bad because it’s also dangerous. I won’t lie: I, and most other Copenhageners, do not go slowly on our bikes. If you’re in front of someone going full-speed and suddenly stop, it’s pretty clear how that can cause a serious injury. I’d also say this is the most common annoyance. 

To be fair, locals can be pretty bad at following the rules of cycling in some cases, too. But most of the time, I see this behavior from tourists. I know it’s from not knowing the rules, and since I have a big enough platform, I figured it was worth talking about anyway. 

Most museums and cultural institutions in Denmark are closed on Mondays. This was something that threw me off guard when I first visited, and to be honest, I sometimes still forget about it now 😅. 

As a result, many businesses—including several restaurants—close for the entirety of July. Though the weather is usually warm and the days are long, keep in mind that July is also one of the busiest tourist seasons in the Danish capital. It’s one of my favorite times of the year to be outside the city center, since everywhere else is empty, but I generally don’t go into Indre By because it’s still quite busy. 

If you’re planning a trip during this month, you can check out my guide to visiting Copenhagen in the summer. I’ve added some useful tips that are specific to coming here during the warmer months of the year. 

4. The Air Temperature Can Sometimes Feel More Like a Guideline

I specifically mean this for when you visit Copenhagen in the winter. The air temperature is milder than many other cities in Scandinavia, but in practice, it almost never feels as warm as it says. The main reason why is that the wind chill will make it feel much colder. 

Most of the time, the temperature in the winter to me feels at least 3ºC colder than it says. If it’s particularly windy, it’ll feel much cooler. I’d say that checking the wind speed is much more important than seeing what the air temperature is. 

During the summer, Copenhagen can be quite humid. However, I’d say that the temperature is close enough to what it feels like… for the most part. 

5. Copenhagen Is Very Clean, but You’ll See a Lot of Graffiti and Stickers

Copenhagen is cleaner than most cities in Europe, especially when it comes to trash. It can definitely be a bit dirtier on Friday and Saturday nights, but things like broken glass and litter are generally picked up before too long. That said, watch out if you cycle on a Saturday or Sunday morning… There’s often a lot of glass in the bike lanes, in some places. 

While the city doesn’t have a big problem with trash on the streets, you will see a lot of graffiti in some areas. This is the case in some parts of Indre By, but it’s more common in Nørrebro and Vesterbro. You’ll also see a lot of stickers on lampposts throughout the city. I find these to be an eyesore, but it is what it is, I guess. 

It looks quite tacky, but I also feel like the graffiti is definitely worse in some cities. I’m saying it more from the perspective of not expecting everywhere to be pristine and spotless. 

6. Tivoli Isn’t Open All Year

Tivoli is worth visiting if you’re in Copenhagen, and I love the Halloween season in particular. However, you should time your trip right if you want to visit the amusement park. It’s only open at distinct times throughout the year. 

You can tip if you want, but it isn’t expected. Many bars and cafés will have a tipping jar, and when you pay in some places, you can choose to add a tip if you really want to. However, it isn’t an absolute necessity. 

If you don’t want to leave a tip when you pay by card, you can simply press the “No Tip” option. Most people will not be offended. 🙂

8. You Will Almost Certainly Have No Issues Communicating in English

English is widely spoken in Copenhagen, and the overwhelming majority of people speak it to a very high level. When you’re in Indre By, in particular, you will have no issues communicating without knowing any Danish. 

Many signs are bilingual, and announcements on public transport will also be in Danish and English. In many restaurants, cafés and bars nowadays, especially in the city center, a lot of the staff are also English speakers.

Of course, it helps to understand some words in Danish. But if you’re just visiting for a weekend, nobody will expect you to be fluent. 

9. There Are Some Public Holidays You Might Not Be Aware Of

Besides Christmas, Easter, and New Year, Denmark has some holidays that catch tourists out. While restaurants might be open on these days, many tourist attractions are closed—and the same goes for most grocery stores. 

Many tours and attractions will remain open, along with restaurants and bars. It’s not a guarantee, though, so you should double-check before you visit. You can see a full list of public holidays here.

10. How You Get From Copenhagen Airport to the City Center Depends on Where You’re Staying

Copenhagen only has one airport, which makes getting to the city quite handy. You don’t need to worry about accidentally booking flights to some obscure place 30+ miles away (and on that note, I do not recommend arriving at Malmö Airport if you see flights for this reason). Getting into the Danish capital from the airport is also very easy when you arrive. 

Public transport is more than good enough, and most people will either use the train or the Metro. The train is your best choice if you’re staying close to Copenhagen Central Station or in Østerbro, Nordhavn, or further north. The journey takes less than 15 minutes to Copenhagen Central Station.

In many cases, you can take a direct Metro train to where you’re staying (or change). If you’re staying in Frederiksberg, Ørestad, Christianshavn, Vanløse, or parts of Indre By close to Nyhavn, I’d recommend taking the Metro instead. It can also be useful if your accommodation is in Nørrebro. For Vesterbro, it depends on where you’re staying. 

For what it’s worth, Google Maps is very reliable in Copenhagen. So, if you’re in doubt, you can always just put the directions to wherever you’re staying. 

11. Yes, I’m Afraid That Copenhagen Is an Expensive City

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Copenhagen is indeed an expensive place to visit. Accommodation is particularly pricey in the summer, and food will also cost you a lot of money. It’s more expensive than the other Nordic capitals, in my opinion, except for Reykjavík. Yes, I think that Copenhagen is pricier than Oslo these days. 

The good news is that the quality of what you’ll get is generally high. However, knowing that you’ll pay a lot of money will at least help when you get that first bill. For what it’s worth, some things—such as public transport and beer—are reasonably priced in most places. 

I’d say that Copenhagen is roughly as expensive as London. You can, however, save money and enjoy the city without paying too much. I have a full guide to visiting Copenhagen on a budget if that’s what you’re planning to do. 

12. The Copenhagen Card *Can* be a Good Way to Save Money

I wrote about my experiences using the Copenhagen Card in this article, but in some cases, it can be a useful way to save money. It’s not particularly cheap, though, so you should decide in advance if you think it would actually be worth your time. 

As a general rule, you don’t need the Copenhagen Card if you’re only planning to visit one or two attractions. Instead, you should just pay the entry price for these. The only exceptions are if you’re taking the train out of the city to visit one of these—for example, Kronborg Castle in Helsingør is included and is also worth visiting—or you’re visiting some that are quite expensive. 

I would say that the Copenhagen Card is definitely worth your time if you’re going to visit five or more attractions. It’s handy for power-using public transport, too, though you can buy a day pass for the Metro, bus, harbor bus, and train instead if you aren’t going to visit any paid attractions. 

You can find out more about what the Copenhagen Card includes, and decide if it’s worth buying for you, here. 

13. Booking a Table for Restaurants Is a Really Good Idea

Copenhagen has some great restaurants, and you should try at least a couple of these when you’re in town. However, eating out is popular with both locals and tourists. As a result, many restaurants and brunch places can be hard to get a seat for on the weekends.

If you know there’s a place you want to visit, booking in advance is a good idea. Most of the time, you can do this on the establishment’s website. Some places are walk-in-only, but to be honest, these are nowhere near the majority. 

14. Copenhagen Is Mostly Cashless

I used cash a few times when visiting before I moved to Copenhagen. But since I started living here, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve used physical money in six years. You absolutely do not need physical cash when visiting most places in the city. 

Visa and Mastercard payments are accepted pretty much everywhere. You can pay with contactless or Apple Pay / Samsung Pay / Google Pay at all major attractions, and the same goes for the majority of restaurants and bars. Some places will only take Dankort or Vipps / MobilePay, but these are very few and far between.

You will also pay in Danish Kroner (DKK) when you visit Copenhagen. Euros are accepted in some places in the city center, but most establishments will only let you pay in DKK. I suggest getting a digital bank, such as Revolut or Monzo, to reduce any foreign exchange fees you’d otherwise pay. 

Some Useful Tips for Your First Visit to Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a great city to visit, but some things are a little different from what you might be used to. And in any case, going somewhere for the first time will always have an element of uncertainty. Having lived in the Danish capital for a long time now, and also having the previous experiences of being a tourist, I’ve learned a lot and observed others to know which mistakes to avoid. 

Once you get here, Copenhagen is quite an easy city to visit. It’s safe, beautiful, and friendly. Now that you’ve read these tips, you should have a better idea of what to expect, too. 

If you have any further questions, you can always leave a comment; I’ll do my best to help. For further planning, I recommend next reading my guide on the best things to do in Copenhagen.